# Help Translating some Arabic **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 27, 2018, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-translating-some-arabic/822004 "2018-09-27T09:36:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-translating-some-arabic/822004/1 "2018-09-27T09:36:46Z")
I am curious about the history of the [Bab-el-Mandeb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bab-el-Mandeb). The Wikipedia mentions an Arab legend about an earthquake and, from the Italian version of the Wikipedia page, I’ve been able to determine that the legend is written in [Yaqut al-Hamawi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaqut_al-Hamawi)’s [Dictionary of Countries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu%27jam_al-Buldan). Unfortunately, there is no English translation, so I was hoping that someone would be willing to find and translate the entry? The Dictionary of Countries link, above, has links to the full text. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-translating-some-arabic/822004/2 "2018-09-27T17:54:50Z")
Sorry, but on page 24 of [the subject index in vol. 6](https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.70335) of that edition of Yaqut referenced in your linked wiki article, where I would expect to find the alphabetical listing for ﺑﺎﺏ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺪﺏ‎ (Bab al-Mandab), I do not see it. The index appears to proceed directly from Bab al-Maratib to Bab al-N-something (can’t identify it in transliteration), and in the Arabic alphabetical _hija`i_ order that it uses, Bab al-Mandab ought to be between them. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-translating-some-arabic/822004/3 "2018-09-27T20:20:26Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Sorry, but on page 24 of [the subject index in vol. 6](https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.70335) of that edition of Yaqut referenced in your linked wiki article, where I would expect to find the alphabetical listing for ﺑﺎﺏ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺪﺏ‎ (Bab al-Mandab), I do not see it. The index appears to proceed directly from Bab al-Maratib to Bab al-N-something (can’t identify it in transliteration), and in the Arabic alphabetical _hija`i_ order that it uses, Bab al-Mandab ought to be between them. Hm…thanks, I’ll try to ascertain if it used to go by a different term. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-translating-some-arabic/822004/4 "2018-10-06T13:45:43Z")
Some alternate terms it might come in under: باب إسكندر مضيق إسكندر جزيرة ميون جزيرة بريم From here: > **[جزيرة ميون](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9_%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86)** > > جزيرة ميون أو جزيرة بريم هي جزيرة بركانية في مدخل مضيق باب المندب، تتبع الجمهورية اليمنية، وتبلغ مساحتها 13 كم² وترتفع إلى منسوب 65 م، وإدارياً تعتبر إحدى العزل التابعة لمديرية ذباب (باب المندب) بمحافظة تعز ويبلغ تعداد سكانها 221 نسمة حسب التعداد السكاني في اليمن لعام 2004. > تسمى (بالإنجليزية: Perim)‏ وفيها ميناء طبيعي في طرفها الجنوبي الغربي. الجزيرة قليلة الخضرة وتفتقد المياه العذبة، الأمر الذي أعاق استيطانها. أمامها شبه جزيرة جبل الشيخ سعيد. > في نقطة ما في تاريخ بريم الجيولوجي ثار بركان فيها أ... > **[باب إسكندر](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A8_%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%83%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%B1)** > > إحداثيات: 12°40′00″N 43°27′00″E / 12.666666666667°N 43.45°E / 12.666666666667; 43.45 > باب إسكندر أو مضيق إسكندر، هو قطاع عرضه 2 ميل (3.2 كـم) وعمقه 29 متر في مضائق باب المندب، والتي تنفصل رأس منهلي (اليمن) ورأس سيان (جيبوتي). وتقسم جزيرة بريم اليمنية المضيق إلى قناتين، باب إسكندر ودكة المعيون. > > هذه بذرة مقالة عن موقع جغرافي في اليمن بحاجة للتوسيع. فضلًا شارك في تحريرها. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-translating-some-arabic/822004/5 "2018-10-06T14:16:41Z")
Indeed, the index goes directly to Bab An-natifidhiine. The other terms, they are the Straight of Alexander (moudaiq Iskander) and the synonym, the Gate of Alexander (bab iskander). The other two are the names of the island (meoun or berime) called Perim in the English. I do not notice an entry for a bab iskander in your target. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2018, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-translating-some-arabic/822004/6 "2018-10-07T02:15:29Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > Indeed, the index goes directly to Bab An-natifidhiine. > > The other terms, they are the Straight of Alexander (moudaiq Iskander) and the synonym, the Gate of Alexander (bab iskander). The other two are the names of the island (meoun or berime) called Perim in the English. > > I do not notice an entry for a bab iskander in your target. Nor the other three? ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2018, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-translating-some-arabic/822004/7 "2018-10-07T16:52:30Z")
I did not look, but now I did. No Although that document is a bit of a pain in the neck to read online. There is no good reason why it would be listed under the names of the island - I do not know if those are in fact names that would be attached to that era in any case.